34 comments:

One of our fellow residents has started something on facebook called "Screw Cuss Free Week." There will be a pro-cussing demonstration at the southwest corner of Fair Oaks and Mission this Saturday at 4:30 pm until 6:00 pm. At the very least, a great photo op.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=336321272524&ref=mf

People like young Mr. Hatch need to realize that the attempt to suppress can result in more of what you say you don't want. As I said on my blog, my experience is that people who want to control us often are hiding their own issues. I for one, am in favor of Extra Cuss Week. Some of my other suggestions will not be repeated on this G-rated blog!

I've thought myself that way too much attention has been given this largely meaningless cause. Words can be very powerful. Silence can be very powerful. Self-censorship? Not so powerful. I do love the picture, and I'll send the link to my sons to remind them of home.

I have followed this effort from the beginning and am surprised and disappointed at how controversial it has become. Young Mr. Hatch has never encouraged prohibiting or outlawing free speech in any way. He comes from a large family and his father has written a book, "How to Raise a G-rated Family in an R-rated World." All Brent Hatch has tried to do is encourage people to be more polite and refrain from using profanity in public. Nothing more than that. And in return he and his family have been the subject of death threats, bomb threats, and such childish pranks as large orders of pizza delivered to his home. Now there is a "Screw Cuss Free Week" according to Mr. Earl.

He's not trying to control you or suppress free speech, Mr. Earl. He's just asking for a little more civility and that's not a bad thing.

And like you, Wayne, I can't last an hour either.

To quote the famous philosopher Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

never thought I'd say this, but I'd much rather see South Pas in the news for being the obnoxious small town that's blocking the 710, rather than the obnoxious small town that's produced a youngster trying to outlaw cussing for the Golden State. Let's see, should the Senate be discussing no cussing, or a $20 billion hole in our budget? Well, da**it, for once politicians seem to have their priorities straight.

...and recalling what the social dynamics are like in the halcyon days of adolescence, I have an inkling that any kid who proposes something like this isn't likely to be mr. popular amongst his peer group. Watch out, though, he'll probably be a governor or senator before you can say $*%*.

DB: I'm on record as saying on the Screw Cuss Free Week page, that death threats and the other stuff goes too far. On the other hand, I find any attempt to regulate the behavior of others, even if only by suggestion, to be suspect. When I first read about the No Cussing Club, I thought it was "cute." But the attempt to make it into a statewide thing goes too far. Although not strictly unconstitutional, for a legislature to even suggest that people should behave a certain way that doesn't directly hurt others and involves speech, is really inappropriate. I don't mind if Hatch and his friends don't want to cuss, but they should not worry about me and what I do. I think this is the reason for the strong reaction.

I don't think this push to take it to the state level necessarily came from the kid...I agree with DB that his initial intent was kind of cute and innocent...it was blown up and all over the news when it first began...by adults clamoring over what a great kid he is...I also agree with DB that the concept of being nicer to each other is more the concept...personally, I remember when people actually used to say "excuse me" when they bumped into you instead of glaring at you (or more) for being in their way, whether you were or not...I think civility has gone right out the window, at least here in California...and while I thoroughly enjoyed all the expletive deleted comments, (as I too could not make it an hour...) I still think there's a message in this that is worthwhile...I do think taking it to the legislature is rather stupid, on the other hand, maybe if they spent more time with these silly issues they'd keep from messing up other things even more!!!

wv: preaes...could this be Toyota's attempt at renaming the erstwhile "Prius"???

You guys obviously didn't read the Pasadena Star NEws article I linked to. Hatch was not happy and had no kind words to say about the Senate adopting this plan. Seems like an obvious political stunt to take away from the state's money mess.

I absolutely support Hatch for his ideas and no cussing club. I also have a complete potty mouth and couldn't make it an hour without dropping an expletive. Obviously I wouldn't belong to the no cussing club but I think trying to encourage kids to use more interesting vocabulary instead of f-bombs in every sentence is a rather noble, if not hopeless, idea.

Laurie: I think you misread the article. What happened is that the Assembly passed the cuss-free week resolution, which Hatch had worked hard to get them to do. The State Senate, on the other hand, did not pass it, but rather tabled it. I think they were under pressure not to spend time on it, and there were free-speech advocates contacting them. In the article you posted, and pretty much all the recent articles, Hatch and his father are expressing displeasure that the Senate didn't pass it.

I heard about this on NPR when it was announced. I thot it was a pretty good waste of time, considering we have a massive budget problem on our hands. Truthfully, when our personal budget is in the tank, I use the 4 letter unfriendlies a lot. I can't imagine working with all those people and NOT swearing. Most of them annoy the sh!t out of me.

But I did have to laugh a little. A friend is trying NOT to use the F word (apparently, other 4 letter words are ok with her). So, as with a nephew of mine, I charge 25c per F word she says. In the last 2 months, I'm up to $9.50 she owes me and I haven't been around her THAT much. I think I need to bump the per offense rate! Then again, we went on vacation with my nephew a few years ago. I said a bad word, he said "You owe me a quarter". I pulled out a $20 from my wallet and said "I'll use this up in this week, trust me". He didn't believe me. I did---his mother has taught him some lovely behaviour and it brings out my "best" Westridge skills. ;-)

wv: ouendear...."ouen dear, please pick up the f&^cking dog poop in the yard!"

I continue to be surprised at the anger and fear a simple suggestion from a teen age kid has caused. It's not an attempt to regulate free speech. It's a simple plea to be more polite. To suggest that it's some type of sinister plot to take freedoms away, and particularly to respond with threats as some have, but not on this blog of course, speaks of delusional paranoia. Sad, sad, sad.

I'm pretty much with DB about this one. When I first learned of the young man who had the no cussing club my first thought was... oh, man. The poor kid. He must walk around with a constant wedgie. I mean, how could anyone survive high school with public ideas like that one? I thought he must be pretty brave, and pretty much an underdog, and those two things always make me root for a guy.

I read an interview some time back where he said that he felt that the continued dropping of f$^% this and f#&$ that made for lazy speech, or something to that effect, and I completely agreed. I'm all for a well placed curse word, but I get tired of the fact that so much of contemporary dialogue sounds like an episode of The Sopranos. I have nothing against four letter words -- I use them every day -- but I do get tired of uncreative language.

Needless to say, I feel bad for the kid and his family. But I also feel the urge to cuss more during no cussing week. What can I say? I'm contrary.

Hell, I wouldnt last the 40 minute drive to work or from work here in Southern California!

Now tell that d@mn idiot to move to the side of the road when eating his double double and trying to make a f&*kin' cell phone call! Holy S&*t these people on the road today! They think the fast lane is for making phone calls or something!

HEY! You cant cross the double yellow line into the diamond lane you a$$!!!!

Stop watching the cop write the idiot a ticket! I need to get to home!

D@mmit! What is this fool doing making a left turn from the right lane!!!! You cant do that!!!! You just cant!

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